Hotel del Coronado: Historical Charm at a High Cost

The Hotel del Coronado is a sprawling oceanfront resort in Coronado, California, just a bridge crossing away from sunny San Diego. Opened in 1888, the property is filled with historical grandeur, and that’s reflected in the high prices you’ll pay to stay and dine there.

The Del — as it’s often referred to by locals — is unique in that it’s split into five neighborhood zones that comprise three separate Hilton Honors properties: one belonging to Hilton’s Curio Collection of upscale independent properties and two that are a part of LXR Hotels and Resorts, a Hilton luxury brand. I stayed at the Curio Collection property, which encompasses the Victorian neighborhood (the original property) and the two newer Views and Cabanas neighborhoods.

Hilton invited me to stay at the Del in April 2026, roughly a year after the property completed a $550-million restoration. While the property covered the costs of my three-night stay, the opinions in this review of the Curio Collection property are my own.

Since the Hotel del Coronado is part of Hilton, you can typically expect to book a standard room in the Victorian or Views for 100,000 to 110,000 Hilton points per night. If you’re paying cash, the cheapest rates rarely drop below $500 a night, while the most expensive can go for more than $1,000 a night for a base-level room, according to a May 2026 search.

Other ways to save:

Use a Hilton free night award. Another great way to experience the Del is if you have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which comes with a free night certificate that can be redeemed at the Del as long as there is standard room reward availability. The card also includes a $200 resort credit every six months that can be used on eligible charges to your room, which can help offset the high dining costs. Terms apply.

It’s hard to overstate how impressive and grand the Del is when you first approach it. A massive driveway leads up to the entrance of the Victorian-era property, which was restored to its original glory as part of the six-year renovation.

If you’re a big Disney fan, like my Lyft driver was, you’ll immediately recognize the building as the inspiration for the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida, with its iconic red-roofed Victorian turrets and white facade.

As you step into the lobby, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to another time, with dark red wood paneling, a grand chandelier and floral carpeting. Don’t miss the silk wallpaper by the check-in desk where you can spot various animals (including monkeys!) that once called the Del home.

Throughout the building, historical photos of past guests line the hallways. Among them, you’ll spot a few familiar faces, such as Marilyn Monroe, who filmed the 1959 comedy “Some Like It Hot” at the property.

To fully appreciate the hotel, I’d recommend signing up for one of its paid property tours or just doing some light Wikipedia reading before you arrive. I joined one of the Del’s “Haunted Happenings” evening tours and enjoyed learning about Kate Morgan, a woman who mysteriously died at the hotel in 1892 and whose ghost is said to still haunt the property to this day.

Beyond the lobby, you’ll find the garden courtyard, which was at one point a zoo of sorts. Today, birds are probably the most exciting creatures you’ll come across.

Manicured green lawns open up to a large stretch of beach just behind the property. There are plenty of places to sit and admire the view, as well as a short walking path that takes you along the coast.

The first floor of the original hotel building as well as its grounds are open to the public, so if you want to get a feel for the Del without staying, that’s possible. The property is also known for its Christmas festivities in the winter, including an on-property ice rink, making it a popular tourist attraction.

Each of the Curio neighborhoods offers a different feel, so you’ll want to choose where you stay carefully. For historical charm (and a chance to stay in the room Morgan once occupied), you’ll want to book the Victorian.

I stayed in a king bed on the second floor in the original hotel building, and I had a spacious patio overlooking the garden.

Initially, I wasn’t very impressed, but my perception of the room changed over time. I loved the outdoor seating area, which felt peaceful when there weren’t events in the courtyard (but that seemed rare given how popular the Del is for work conferences). I also appreciated the convenience of being able to take the stairs to get to my room — typically much faster than the elevator.

The room itself was spacious, and the bathroom was large.

It was well-appointed, although it felt a bit barren. Some more furniture, such as a small loveseat or additional table, would have helped balance it out.

The Cabanas neighborhood offers a spot near both the pool and the beach. I toured one of the rooms, which felt modern and beachy. Rooms here are spread across two floors in a low-rise building, with some including easy beach and pool access.

The Views tower offers high-floor rooms with sweeping ocean views. Of the three neighborhoods, the rooms here felt most akin to what you might expect from a modern upscale property.

There are several dining options on the property, but be warned, most things are going to cost you a lot of money. If you’re looking for cheaper eats, consider walking a few minutes to one of the nearby restaurants in Coronado.

However, if you plan on splurging, the Del’s three full-service restaurants offer tasty eats with excellent service and an ocean view.

Veranda, which serves American fare, is home to the hotel’s breakfast buffet and is also open for dinner. If you’re there in the evening, don’t miss the restaurant’s souffle dessert that Marilyn Monroe is said to have ordered every day during filming.

Serea is a seafood-forward restaurant, and I found the food to be incredibly fresh. One of the hotel employees recommended the whole fish, which was delicious (and yes, it really was a whole fish!).

Nobu del Coronado rounds out the trio of restaurants, an outpost of the famous Japanese restaurant chain known for its Peruvian influences. Nobu locations around the world have a reputation for being celebrity hotspots, so if you plan on eating here, expect to splash out some serious cash. I loved the spicy tuna crispy rice and black cod miso, both Nobu perennial favorites.

Other informal dining options include the Babcock & Story Bar, named after the hotel’s founders, and ENO Market & Pizzeria, a cafe with grab-and-go sandwiches, pastries and other snacks, as well as an outdoor sit-down area with wood-fired pizzas, which I thought were tasty. There’s also Sun Deck, which serves lunch and dinner, as well as a taco shack on the beach; however, at $12 a taco, I wasn’t very impressed with the flavor. You’re much better off finding a local taco spot.

The on-site gelato shop is easy for a quick dessert, but online reviewers were disappointed that no samples were allowed. While the sundae I had was large and filling, I ultimately preferred MooTime Creamery, a local favorite just a short walk away from the hotel.

You can also order room service via Del Dash, which is available for breakfast and dinner daily and for lunch from Monday through Thursday. Keep in mind you’ll need to pay a $5 delivery fee and 20% automatic gratuity.

During my stay, most people spent their day at the massive pool because the beach was windy most days. There are plenty of pool chairs to relax in, as well as a small hot tub.

If you want to get a good workout, the fitness center is well-stocked with cardio, strength training and boxing equipment. There are even fitness classes that you can sign up for, some of which are included as part of the daily resort fee. I joined a studio yoga class one morning, which was a great way to get my day started.

The spa, located next to the fitness center, offers various treatments. I really enjoyed my 50-minute massage, which also gave me access to the spa facilities for the day, including its own plunge pool, a steam room and a hot tub.

If you’re looking to go off-property, you can also rent a bike and cycle around the island of Coronado.

When you stay at the Hotel del Coronado, you’re staying at a historic property that’s arguably one of the most iconic hotels in America. It’s architecturally gorgeous, and its oceanside location is hard to beat.

However, the Del knows this about itself and prices its rooms and restaurant menus accordingly.

Whether it’s worth it to you will ultimately depend on your budget and what you value in a vacation. If your goal is to go sightseeing around San Diego, you’re probably better off staying in the city itself instead of on Coronado island. Don’t forget you can always come visit the property as a day trip from San Diego.

But if your goal is a relaxing getaway (and you have credit card benefits to take advantage of), the Del could check a lot of boxes.

Top photo by Benjamin Din/NerdWallet.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.